Folding bed.



Patented Jan. 9, I900. J. P. LEIN.

FOLDING BED No. 640,782. Patented Jan. 9, 1900. .1. P. LEIN.

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(Application filed Oct. 14, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. v640,782. Patented Ian. 9, IQOO.

J. P. LEIN.

FOLDING BED.

lication filed Oct. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

JOHN P. LEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BED.

PECIFIOATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,782, dated January 9, 1900. Application filed 00mm 14,1898. Serial No. 693,507. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. LEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to folding beds; and its object is to construct a bed or beds which when not in use may be conveniently closed in such manner as to allow perfect ventilation of all parts of the bed and at the same time occupy a space so small that the free passage of persons about the bed shall not be interfered with.

The invention is more particularly applicable for use in transport and hospital ships, sleeping-cars, hotels, and the like where a number of beds are assembled together and where it is necessarythat they should be folded to clear the space occupied during the day; but it will be understood that I do not confine the application of the invention to any particular use.

The invention also comprehends other features of advantage-such, for instance, as economy in construction, lightness, and great strength-which will be more particularly referred to hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a form of bed constructed in accordance with my invention, it being here noted that I do not confine myself to the precise construction shown in said drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the bed ready for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the locking device for holding the parts in proper position, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the bed folded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A A represent two supports preferably comprising two uprights a a, joined together at their ends by a yoke b, the whole forming two substantially U shaped supports adapted to rest upon the floor. The uprights a a should be separated from each other suiiiciently far to allow a person to walk between them. In practice this distance will ordinarily be about two feet. It is not essential that the uprights should be vertical or even parallel to each other; nor is it material whether the supmaterial advantages of the device is that it allows a person to pass freely in and around the bed it will be found that the use of an open support-such, for instance, as the one shown in the drawings-will in most instances be desired, if not required. The respective supports will preferably be connected with each other by braces c c c c.

B and G are the bed-frames, each of which i is pivoted at its ends, preferably at points near the middle of said ends, as illustrated in the drawings, to the respective supports by suitable hinges or studs d d and e e, respectively. These parts may together form one complete bed-frame when they are in horizontal position; as shown in the upper berths in Fig. 1, or each part may be a complete frame in itself, as shown in the lower berths of the same figure.

The respective parts B and O, or either part, may be hinged to the supports at their sides or at any part of their ends near the middle thereof, as shown in the drawings, if desired; but I prefer the construction shown in the drawings for the reason that the parts are thereby balanced and it is much easier to fold the bed. In the construction shown in the drawings when the parts are folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of each part is adapted to strike against the brace c, and thus be kept in line with the uprights,to which it is hinged. When it is desired that the two parts together shall form the bed-frame and that the mattress or bedding shall be disposed transversely across the two frames to thus ing laid lengthwise of the part, as by this arrangement more space is economized, and also because these beds are generally used to accommodate a large number of men, as on a transport-ship, where it is desirable that each man shall have a separate bed.

Suitable lockin g devices should be provided whereby when the parts are horizontal they may be locked and firmly held in position. I have shown herein a convenient means comprising an armf, adapted to swing upon the upright a and have its ends bifurcated or otherwise arranged to engage and hold a suitable part of the bed-frame. The arm f is attached to a collar g, which loosely embraces the upright ct and has a cut-away portion h, adapted to embrace the stud d or 8, whereby when the collar drops down so that the cut-away portion embraces the stud the arm f will be held rigidly in place. I prefer this construction for the reason that the swinging arm when in position will serve as an end rail of the bedframe and be a convenient guard for the bedding. When a device of the kind here shown is used, it will be found convenient to locate the locking-arms upon the side of the bed nearest the wall if only one locking device is provided for each part.

In the operation of the device to make the bed ready the parts B and G or one of them, according to whether one or both parts form the bed-frame, are swung to their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l, and the arms f are then swung around until the ends of the arm engage the bed -frame. The collar of the arm f is then allowed to drop until the cut-away portion embraces the stud cl, when the parts of the bed-frame will be securely locked in position. To fold the bed, it is first necessary to raise the collar far enough to allow it to turn and swing arm f out of engagement with the bed-frame, and the parts are then swung to their vertical position.

l/Vhen the bed herein described is folded, a passage is clear for a person to walk around and directly through the middle of the bed between the supports. In transports and similar places where it is desired to assemble a great number of beds the beds here shown may be placed directly alongside each other, if necessary covering the entire floor-space, and when not in use can be folded quickly, leaving a passage-way clear to any part of the floor.

A further feature of advantage resides in the construction of the raised sidesof the bedframes by means of a bar m, parallel to the side of the frame and raised a suitable distance above the same. By this construction the bedclothes are properly held in place and prevented from sliding from side to side. By

sides, at one end, to one of the uprights of one of said supports, and at the other end to one of the uprights of the other support, and a longitudinal brace connecting the uprights of the opposite supports, said brace being adapted to serve as a stop tolirnit the move ment of one of the bed-frames, substantially as described.

2. The combination of two supports, one of which comprises two stationary uprights rigidly joined together at the top by a yoke, a plurality of bed-frames, each of said frames being hinged and balanced intermediate its sides, at one end to one of said supports and at the other end to one of the uprights of the other support, and a laterally-swinging arm carried by one of said supports said arm being provided with means for engaging one of said bed-frames when in horizontal position, and supporting the same in said position, substantially as described.

3. The combination of two supports, a bedframe hinged thereto at its respective ends, said bed-frame being balanced intermediate its sides, and adapted to be swung to horizontal and vertical positions, and a laterallyswinging arm, carried by one of said supports, said arm being provided with means for engaging said bed-frame when in horizontal position, and supporting the same in said position, substantially as described.

4. The combination of two supports, a bedframe hinged thereto at its respective ends, said bed-framebeing balanced intermediate its sides, and adapted to be swung to horizontal and vertical positions, a laterally-swinging arm carried by one of said supports, said arm being provided with means for engaging said bed-frame when in horizontal position, and supporting the same in said position, and means for locking said arm, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. LEIN.

\Vitnesses W. Invnvn, O. V. EDWARDS. 

